What's Happening?
Marlys Big Eagle, a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and a Fort Thompson resident, has been appointed as South Dakota's Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) specialist. This role was previously held by Allison Morrisette, who became the first
to serve in the position in 2022. Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Big Eagle's hiring, highlighting her extensive experience of over two decades working with crime victims. Big Eagle spent 27 years with the U.S. Department of Justice, including 23 years as the supervisory victim witness coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Dakota. For the past four years, she served as the agency’s first Native American outreach services liaison for MMIP cases in tribal areas, working from the department's Washington, D.C., executive office. The state-level liaison position was established by the Legislature in 2021 and, after initial funding by a nonprofit, was made permanent and state-funded through Attorney General Jackley's efforts. The liaison's primary function is to connect family members with resources and law enforcement agencies investigating cases involving their missing or murdered loved ones.
Why It's Important?
The appointment of Marlys Big Eagle as South Dakota's MMIP liaison is significant due to the disproportionately high rates of missing and murdered Indigenous people in the state and nationwide. Native Americans face homicide rates nearly five times higher than non-Hispanic whites, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2023. In South Dakota, where Native Americans constitute approximately 8.5% of the population, they consistently account for 60% of missing persons cases listed in the state's online clearinghouse. As of a recent count, 58 of the state's 93 missing people were Native American, with 30 of 48 missing women also being Native American. Big Eagle's background, particularly her experience with tribal communities, law enforcement, and prosecutors, is expected to enhance the effectiveness of the liaison role. Her appointment aims to provide crucial support and advocacy for families seeking answers and justice, addressing a critical issue that has long affected Indigenous communities.
What's Next?
Marlys Big Eagle will assume her duties as South Dakota's MMIP specialist, focusing on connecting families of missing and murdered Indigenous people with necessary resources and law enforcement agencies. She expressed her commitment to working alongside other MMIP stakeholders and partners to bring answers, support, and justice to these cases. Her prior experience as the first Native American outreach services liaison for MMIP cases in Washington, D.C., suggests a comprehensive approach to the role. The ongoing efforts to address the overrepresentation of Native Americans in missing persons and violent crime cases are further supported by federal legislation like the Not Invisible Act, passed by Congress in 2020, which established a commission to investigate underlying causes and identify improvements. Big Eagle's work will contribute to these broader initiatives, aiming to improve outcomes for Indigenous families in South Dakota.
Beyond the Headlines
The persistent issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people highlights deep-seated systemic challenges, including historical injustices, jurisdictional complexities between tribal, state, and federal law enforcement, and a lack of adequate resources for investigations. The creation and state-funding of the MMIP liaison position in South Dakota, following the establishment of a public-facing missing people site in 2020, signifies a growing recognition of this crisis. Marlys Big Eagle's appointment, with her extensive experience and credibility within tribal communities, represents a crucial step towards building trust and improving communication between affected families and the justice system. This role is not merely administrative; it embodies a commitment to addressing the ethical and social dimensions of a crisis that has long been overlooked, aiming to provide a voice and support for a vulnerable population and work towards more equitable justice outcomes.
